hmv previews 2018's Best Albums... Rock & Metal

Over the next few days, we'll be previewing 80 of the best albums you can expect to hear in 2017. Most will come out, some inevitably won't, but they are all worth getting excited about.

Today it's the best of rock and metal...

Black Veil Brides

Title: Vale

Release Date: January 12th

It’s been four years since we last had a studio album from Andy Biersack and co, but they return in the second week of the year with a brand new LP, their fifth in all.

Recorded with producer John Feldmann, who helped Biersack helm his Andy Black solo album, and is best known for his work with All Time Low and Five Seconds Of Summer, the LP sees the band embracing a cleaner sound.

The album is another concept record, picking up directly after the events of 2013’s Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones and taking the listener on another journey of wild adventure and rebellion…

Machine Head

The thrash titans have opted for a change of direction for the follow-up to 2014’s Bloodstone and Diamonds.

Their new LP, the ninth studio of their career to date, was recorded with All Shall Perish Zack Ohren, sees the band pushing melody to the centre, but still maintained the same crushing heaviness that has characterised their sound.

Marmozets

It’s taken the Yorkshire fivesome four years to deliver a follow-up to their hugely acclaimed debut album The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets, but it finally arrives in the first month of this year.

Produced by Gil Norton, best known for his work with Foo Fighters, Twin Atlantic and Pixies, the album sees the band slightly refining the rawness of their debut, but continuing their thundering taste for melodies and choruses.

Of Mice & Men

Title: Defy

Release Date: January 19th

The Orange County metallers have enjoyed a turbulent couple of years. Their touring in support of 2016’s Cold World was stalled by frontman Austin Carlile’s battle with Marfan's Syndrome, a condition that eventually forced him to depart the band to focus on his health.

After Carlile’s departure, the band kept going with bassist Aaron Pauley taking over duties as lead vocalist. Now a foursome, they’ve cemented their new line-up with new LP Defy, an album recorded with My Chemical Romance/Papa Roach producer Howard Benson.

Carlile’s departure hasn’t slowed the band down, as you can on the title track below, that anthemic metallic stomp is still in everything they do...

Don Broco

After their departure from Sony Records, the eccentric pop rockers have regrouped with new label Sharptone Records and are preparing their third full-length effort.

Recorded with A frontman Jason Perry and Lower Than Atlantis key collaborator Dan Lancaster, the album sees the band combining the sharp-edged riffola of their debut album Priorities with the wide-eyed pop of 2015’s Automatic, all with an eccentric and cynical lyrical edge, as you can hear on new single ‘T-Shirt Song’...

Rolo Tomassi

The Sheffield noiseniks drop their fifth studio album in early Spring, their first for three years.

Produced by Lewis Johns, best known for his work with Gnarwolves and Funeral For A Friend, the album sees the band reining in the expansive nature of previous effort Grievances for a more direct sound.

Ghost B.C

Title: TBC

Release Date: April

The Swedish doom metallers with a penchant for papal costumes have spent much of the last decade shrouded in mystery, but after a nasty lawsuit involving former members of the band, a lot of details, including the reveal of the band’s frontman as Tobias Forge, are now out in the open.

Forge, or Papa Emeritus as he is better known, has replaced his entire band since 2016, but is pressing on with a new album, an album he has promised and inspired by the downfall of civilization...

Judas Priest

Title: Firepower

Release Date: March

The metal icons will make it 18 albums and counting in March with the release of new LP Firepower.

The first album since 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls, the band have recruited regular producer Tom Allom as well as Exodus/Megadeth knob twiddler Andy Sneap.

Now settled with guitarist Richie Faulkner, the band have promised a fiery reprise for their new album.

Bullet For My Valentine

Title: TBA

Release Date: TBA

After channelling the sound of debut album The Poison for 2015’s Venom, the Welsh metallers are breaking new ground with their next LP.

Produced by While She Sleeps/Fightstar man Carl Bown, the album looks set to see the band streamlining their sound and going for something more anthemic. There will still be some big ol’ riffs though...

Saxon

Title: Thunderbolt

Release Date: February 2nd

The Sheffield trad metallers drop album 22 of their career next year.

Andy Sneap has handled production for this one, which is the follow-up to their 2015 record Battering Ram.

Among the tracks on the album are ‘They Played Rock And Roll’, which is a tribute to Motorhead and the spooky 'Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz)'.